Ok, I know the traditional comment is to say that it’s just an honor to be nominated, it’s got to feel really amazing to win. That said, Downton Abbey must be on top of the world at the moment. If you went to bed early on Sunday evening, you’re probably asking why at this point. Well, the 63rd Primetime Emmy Awards telecast is history and Downton Abbey, ‘the little ITV program that could’ took home four Emmys against some pretty ‘big machine’ competition. After the dust settled, DA left the stage at the end of the evening with not only the Emmy statue for Outstanding Miniseries or Movie, but also for Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie, Writing for a Drama, Miniseries or Movie and Outstanding Cinematography in a Miniseries or Movie.

On the night that the second series was in a battle of its own in the UK against the premiere of the final season of Spooks, the initial miniseries, in a mild upset proudly predicted here on Saturday, bested HBO’s blockbuster re-make of Mildred Pierce while Dame Maggie Smith, in true Dowager Countess of Grantham fashion, took out the three ladies from the HBO special and another dame, Eileen Atkens from Upstairs Downstairs for the supporting actress nod. Downton Abbey writer, Julian Fellowes, bested fellow PBS miniseries nominees, Steven Moffat (Sherlock: A Study in Pink) and Heidi Thomas (Upstairs Downstairs). Fellowes, who also served as executive producer of the British-made series, had said on the stage, “….it was a victory of David over Goliath….although, in this case, Goliath was pretty good.”

Congratulations to all those nominated and, especially, to Downton Abbey. Well-deserved nominations and wins all the way around. And how great was it to see the cast of Entourage present and accept the award for Dame Maggie Smith.

For those few that are just hearing of Downton Abbey for the first time last night, the Emmy-award winning series will be rebroadcast on PBS in December with the premiere of the second season slated for a January 8, 2012 premiere in the States.